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Audubon joins Hanford Mills Museum for Ice Harvest Festival
Written By Editor on 1/27/21 | 1/27/21
Residents of Federal Disaster Areas Get Second Chance for Medicare Enrollment
If you’re eligible for Medicare, you can enroll and choose a plan any time during the three months before and after the month you turn 65. After that, you usually only have one chance a year: the annual election period (AEP). Also referred to as Medicare open enrollment, AEP runs yearly from October 15 to December 7. Dave Rich, CEO of Ensurem, a Florida-based insurance technology and product distribution firm, says, “In most cases, if you wanted to enroll or change plans for 2021 and didn’t get it done by December 7, you’re out of luck.(1) Or maybe not, depending on where you live.” Medicare-eligible individuals residing in certain states could qualify for special enrollment periods.
Medicare special enrollment periods (SEPs), Rich explains, are available to residents of Federal Emergency Management Agency-declared disaster areas. While the special enrollment periods apply only to residents of these areas, a significant number of seniors may nonetheless be eligible.
This SEP gives individuals the opportunity to enroll in, disenroll from, or switch Medicare health or prescription drug plans and is open to those who:
- live (or lived at the start of the incident period,) in an area for which FEMA has declared an emergency or a major disaster (fire, flood, hurricane, etc.); and
- had another Medicare enrollment period at the time of the incident period (such as AEP, October 15-December 7); and
- did not enroll or make a change during that enrollment period.(2)
The special enrollment opportunity, notes Rich, runs for four full calendar months after the declaration of emergency. This means, residents of an area declared a disaster zone by FEMA as long ago as October will still be eligible to enroll or make a change in their Medicare plans for 2021 up until February, and in some cases, even March.
“Given the disruption and challenges of 2020,” he says, “this opportunity may be of interest to Medicare-eligible individuals who for one reason or another did not enroll in Medicare or change their plans during the annual enrollment period and would like to do so now.”
States containing FEMA-declared disaster areas in which SEPs may be available from January to March, for example, include Alabama, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, Texas and Wyoming.(3)
Medicare-eligible individuals residing in these states and wishing to know if their particular county is part of a FEMA-declared disaster area can contact Medicare or FEMA directly. For those looking for quicker answers, there is an alternative:
“As specialists in Medicare insurance, we are aware how confusing it is to navigate the Medicare landscape, especially with these FEMA exceptions which go unnoticed by most beneficiaries. At Ensurem, we are on top of all Medicare news, changes, and processes,” says Rich.
Ensurem is up to date on this information and willing and ready to verify anyone’s eligibility for this special enrollment period. They can be reached from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET at (800) 729-5109.
About Ensurem:
Ensurem, headquartered in Clearwater, FL, is a leading technology and product distribution company serving carriers and consumers within the massive U.S. senior market. The company provides end-to-end solutions for carriers, including product development, digital marketing and consumer-centric front ends and back end. For more information, please visit Ensurem.com.
1. “Medicare Enrollment Periods: When to Sign Up.” Medicare, medicare.gov/blog/medicare-enrollment-period-2020.
2. Guidance Portal, hhs.gov/guidance/document/special-enrollment-period-sep-individuals-affected-fema-declared-weather-related-emergency.
3. “Declared Disasters.” Declared Disasters | FEMA.gov, fema.gov/disasters/disaster-declarations.
Enjoy Virtual Ice Harvest Festival events at home, February 2-6
Learn about the 19th century ice trade, find out where to view eagles, test your knowledge in trivia games, watch new videos about ice harvesting and the science of ice, take part in a winter scavenger hunt, and watch online programming from Hanford Mills educators. Some events are scheduled, other resources and activities are available for you to enjoy when you choose. For the latest information, go to our Ice Harvest webpage.
Scheduled Events
Tuesday, February 2, 7 pm
Birding for Bald Eagles
The Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society (DOAS) will offer a special online presentation to highlight the region’s Bald Eagle population. DOAS Co-President Andy Mason and DOAS Director and Research Coordinator Tom Salo will discuss the history of eagle conservation in New York State, eagle identification, and a new self-guided driving tour and map, developed by DOAS, that will allow people to independently visit sites that are good for eagle viewing. Register for the free program at doas.us.
Thursday, February 4 at 7 pm
Winter’s Coolest Crop: Ice Harvesting History and Culture
Andrew Robichaud, Assistant Professor of History at Boston University, joins HMM staff Liz Callahan and Kajsa Harley for a free online presentation. Robichaud’s book-in-progress, tentatively titled On Ice: Transformations in American Life, is a history of climate, ice, and the ice trade in North America, and explores the cultural and economic ice age in nineteenth-century America. Along with a discussion of the history of ice harvesting in the Northeast, they will discuss how Hanford Mills celebrates the historic community tradition of ice harvesting. Register in advance at http://bit.ly/
Friday, February 5, 7-9 pm
Science Trivia Night with the Science Discovery Center
The A.J. Read Science Discovery Center and SUNY Oneonta Planetarium are hosting a three-round online trivia game on Zoom. Participants can play as a team (2-5 people) or play solo. The trivia will be “ice” themed, from glaciers, to ice planets, to the history of ice and refrigeration. Register in advance at https://suny.oneonta.edu/
Saturday, February 6, 11 am
Ice Harvesting and Ice Houses Family Program
Luke Murphy, Hanford Mills education coordinator, will offer a family-friendly online presentation. Learn how ice houses work and experiment with different materials to determine what insulates ice the best. The program is free and you can register in advance at https://bit.ly/
Enjoy a Winter Tradition in a New Way
Our goal for the 2021 virtual Ice Harvest Festival is to offer a fun and rewarding shared experience that many of us are missing these days. We will be premiering three Ice Harvesting videos, created by the Cooperstown Graduate Program, that explore the ice harvesting process, the science of ice and ice houses, and the water cycle and climate change. A Winter Scavenger Hunt will be posted here, as well as other winter crafts and activities you can enjoy.
We've come up with a Virtual Ice Harvest Festival Playlist on Spotify, give it a listen! Let us know if you have a song to add.
Have a question about ice harvesting? Ask Hanford Mills, and we'll answer on our website or Facebook.
We also encourage you to submit your Ice Harvest photos and memories, which we are sharing on our Facebook page.
Buy Local
Please support the restaurants that have provided soup at past Ice Harvests, and also the local businesses, farmers, and artisans that have exhibited at Ice Harvests. Here is a list of who came to the February 2020 Ice Harvest. Treat yourself to some delicious take-out as you enjoy the virtual Ice Harvest Festival.Greene County Senior Menu for March 2021
Schoharie County COVID Vaccination Information
Written By Editor on 1/26/21 | 1/26/21
Please feel free to pass this information along to those who meet the criteria for the clinics.
Schoharie County Department of Health is conducting two Vaccine Clinics this week:
ESSENTIAL WORKERS (Only those Defined below): Thursday, 1/28 from 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm in the main County Office Building basement. You MUST make an appointment, as we are NOT permitted to reserve vaccine for specific individuals, and we do not allow walk-in patients. Please check the county website at https://www4.schohariecounty-
OVER 65 YEARS OLD: Friday, 1/29 from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm in the main County Office Building basement. You MUST make an appointment, as we are NOT permitted to reserve vaccine for specific individuals, and we do not allow walk-in patients. Please check the county website at https://www4.schohariecounty-
*PLEASE DO NOT show up more than 5 minutes prior to your appointment time, as this prevents us from ensuring adequate social distancing.
**PLEASE NOTE: You will be pre-screened for reasoning for signing up for a vaccine and must fit into the category you are making an appointment for. You will be required to show Identification proving your employer, title and/or age. Anyone not fitting into the category for which they make an appointment will be removed and will not receive a vaccination.
***ESSENTIAL WORKERS INCLUDE ONLY THOSE LISTED BELOW:
- High-risk hospital workers (emergency room workers, ICU staff and Pulmonary Department staff)
- Residents and staff at nursing homes and other congregate care facilities
- Federally Qualified Health Center employees
- EMS workers
- Coroners, medical examiners and certain funeral workers
- Staff and residents at OPWDD, OMH and OASAS facilities
- Urgent Care providers
- Individuals administering COVID-19 vaccines, including local health department staff
- All Outpatient/Ambulatory front-line, high-risk health care workers of any age who provide direct in-person patient care
- All staff who are in direct contact with patients (i.e., intake staff)
- All front-line, high-risk public health workers who have direct contact with patients, including those conducting COVID-19 tests, handling COVID-19 specimens and COVID-19 vaccinations
- This includes, but is not limited to,
- Doctors who work in private medical practices and their staff
- Doctors who work in hospital-affiliated medical practices and their staff
- Doctors who work in public health clinics and their staff
- Registered Nurses
- Specialty medical practices of all types
- Dentists and Orthodontists and their staff
- Psychiatrists and Psychologists and their staff
- Physical Therapists and their staff
- Optometrists and their staff
- Pharmacists and Pharmacy Aides
- Home care workers
- Hospice workers
- Staff of nursing homes/skilled nursing facilities who did not receive COVID vaccination through the Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program
- First Responder and Support Staff for First Responder Agencies
- Fire Service
- State Fire Service, including firefighters and investigators (professional and volunteer)
- Local Fire Services, including firefighters and investigators (professional and volunteer)
- Police and Investigators
- State Police, including Troopers
- State Park Police, DEC Police, Forest Rangers
- SUNY Police
- Sheriffs' Offices
- County Police Departments and Police Districts
- City, Town, and Village Police Departments
- Transit of other Public Authority Police Departments
- State Field Investigators, including Department of Motor Vehicles, State Commission of Correction, Justice Center, Department of Financial Services, Inspector General, Department of Tax and Finance, Office of Children and Family Services, and State Liquor Authority
- Public Safety Communications
- Emergency Communication and Public Safety Answering Point Personnel, including dispatchers and technicians
- Other Sworn and Civilian Personnel
- Court Officers
- Other Police or Peace Officers
- Support or Civilian Staff for Any of the above services, agencies, or facilities
- Corrections
- State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Personnel, including correction and parole officers
- Local Correctional Facilities, including correction officers
- Local Probation Departments, including probation officers
- State Juvenile Detention and Rehabilitation Facilities
- Local Juvenile Detention and Rehabilitation Facilities
- In-person college instructors
- P-12 Schools
- P-12 school or school district faculty or staff (includes all teachers, substitute teachers, student teachers, school administrators, paraprofessional staff and support staff including bus drivers)
- Contractors working in a P-12 school or school district (including contracted bus drivers)
- Licensed, registered, approved or legally exempt group Childcare Providers
- Employees or Support Staff of Licensed or Registered Childcare Setting
- Grocery store workers
- Public Transit
- Airline and airport employees
- Passenger railroad employees
- Subway and mass transit employees (i.e., MTA, LIRR, Metro North, NYC Transit, Upstate transit)
- Ferry employees
- Port Authority employees
- Public bus employees
- Individuals living in a homeless shelter where sleeping, bathing or eating accommodations must be shared with individuals and families who are not part of the same household
- Individual working (paid or unpaid) in a homeless shelter where sleeping, bathing or eating accommodations must be shared by individuals and families who are not part of the same household, in a position where there is potential for interaction with shelter residents
Tague Announces Several Initiatives
Fenimore Art Museum Launches New Online Collections Site
See Fenimore’s entire collection of fine art, folk art, and The Thaw Collection of American Indian Art online for the first time.
COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — Fenimore Art Museum announced today the launch of an exciting new digital database showcasing the Museum’s nationally renowned collections of fine art, folk art, and The Thaw Collection of American Indian Art. The site dramatically improves online access and representation of the Museum’s holdings consisting of more than 2,000 objects and works of art. This new site is accessible through the Museum’s website, FenimoreArt.org.
“It has always been a high priority to get our collections online and made accessible to the public–especially our acclaimed folk art,” said Dr. Paul S. D’Ambrosio, Fenimore Art Museum President and CEO. “The folk art collection, highly regarded as one of the most comprehensive and significant in the United States, was assembled by Stephen C. Clark in the 1950s and has never been rightfully represented online for the world to see.”
By digitizing and providing open access to its most prestigious collections, Fenimore Art Museum will enrich the art experience of students, teachers, scholars, and museum visitors. The new online site delivers rich, on-demand content about works of art on view and in storage, allowing a broader reach for exploring the collection. Supplemental information will also accompany objects. It is now possible for visitors to determine which works of art are on view in the Museum. Additional features include high-resolution object images and the ability to share images and information on social media. Public access also includes the ability for viewers to save their favorite pieces.
The concept of a collections site was proposed to Robert and Patricia Hanft in 2018. Interested in funding a special project that would benefit the Museum for years to come, their initial donation set the project in motion, one that would ultimately enable the Museum to publish its entire collection online, including photographing the entire permanent collection. A total of $250,000 was raised to fund the project. Fenimore will add content representing the Museum’s photographic and textile collections in the future after additional funding is secured.
Production on the new site began in January of 2019. The content was organized and assembled by Fenimore staff led by Ann Cannon, Assistant Curator of American Art, and Julia Madore, Assistant Curator of American Art. Photographer Richard Walker provided professional images of the entire collection.
“Fenimore’s folk art and American Indian art collections represent the ‘gold standard’ among comparable collections in the United States,” said D’Ambrosio. “These collections are in the same class with assemblages in the very best museums in the country, such as the folk art collection at The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the American Indian art collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. We hope everyone takes a close look.”
For more information and to see the new collections site, visit FenimoreArt.org.
Legal Notice: Notice of Regular Meetings
NOTICE OF REGULAR MEETINGS
Please take notice that the Windham Fire District of the town of Windham County of Greene, New York, will hold its regular meetings for the year 2021 on Feb. 17, Mar 17, Apr 21, May 19, June 16, July 21, Aug 18, Sept 15, Oct 18, Nov 17, and Dec 15 at 6 o’clock p.m. on such date at Town Hall 371 NY-296, Hensonville, NY 12439. All meetings of the Windham Fire District are open to the public.
This notice is being posted in accordance with the provisions of Section 94 of the Public Officers Law of the State of New York.
By order of the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Windham Fire District.
_Sandra Allen_________
Secretary
Windham Fire District
Avoiding Dementia-Related Wandering
Persons living with Alzheimer’s and dementia are prone to wandering, which often puts them at risk. As temperatures continue to drop across the Capital Region this winter, those risks increase exponentially. According to an Alzheimer’s Association study, 6 in 10 people with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia will wander. It is one of the most unsettling behavioral changes common for someone with Alzheimer’s disease, yet it often surprises family caregivers and can end with tragic results.
Wandering can happen in the early, middle or late stages of the disease as people experience losses in judgement and orientation. It can also happen if they are still driving or have access to car keys. They may drive away and not know how to get back. In order to best serve our constituents, we want to arm you with tips for preventing wandering:
· Have a routine for daily activities.
· Identify the most likely times of day that wandering may occur. Plan activities at that time. Activities and exercise can reduce anxiety, agitation and restlessness.
· Reassure the person if he or she feels lost, abandoned or disoriented. If the person with dementia wants to leave to “go home” or “go to work,” use communication focused on exploration and validation. Refrain from correcting the person. For example, “We are staying here tonight. We are safe and I’ll be with you. We can go home in the morning after a good night’s rest.”
· Ensure all basic needs are met. Has the person gone to the bathroom? Is he or she thirsty or hungry?
· Avoid busy places that are confusing and can cause disorientation.
· Place locks out of the line of sight. Install either high or low on exterior doors and consider placing slide bolts at the top or bottom.
· Use devices that signal when a door or window is opened. This can be as simple as a bell placed above a door or as sophisticated as an electronic home alarm.
· Provide supervision. Do not leave someone with dementia unsupervised in new or changed surroundings.
· If the person is no longer driving, remove access to car keys – a person with dementia may not just wander by foot. The person may forget that he or she can no longer drive. If the person is still able to drive, consider using a GPS device to help if they get lost.
Marisa Korytko is the Public Relations Director for the Alzheimer’s Association Northeastern New York chapter. She can be reached at mekorytko@alz.org.
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